Stuart Liddell
Encyclopedia
Stuart Liddell is a Scottish
bagpipe player. Stuart Liddell was born in Oban and spent his early years in Inveroran, near Bridge of Orchy (hence his first album title). His father Billy was an accomplished musician, as is his mother Agnes, and his grandfather was the late Pipe Major Ronnie McCallum MBE, piper to the Duke of Argyll. At the age of four the family moved to Moffat in Dumfriesshire where Stuart went to school. The family moved to Inveraray, his mother's home town, in 1983. He is one of the most recognized names in piping, and one of the top competitive solo players in the world today.
and is Pipe Major
of the hugely successful juvenile Inveraray Pipe Band
-- a band he helped found. For ten years (1998–2008), he played with the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band
in Burnaby, British Columbia
and won three World Pipe Band Championship
titles (1999, 2001, 2008). Before joining the SFU Pipe Band, he played with Scottish Power Pipe Band
.
(2004), the former winner's Clasp at the Northern Meeting (2007 & 2009), the Bratach Gorm at the Scottish Piping Society of London (2009) and the Glenfiddich Championship (2009). He is known for his fast playing and innovative arrangements of piping standards. His competitive successes demonstrates that he is well-versed in traditional playing styles.
, with solo tracks on many discs.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
bagpipe player. Stuart Liddell was born in Oban and spent his early years in Inveroran, near Bridge of Orchy (hence his first album title). His father Billy was an accomplished musician, as is his mother Agnes, and his grandfather was the late Pipe Major Ronnie McCallum MBE, piper to the Duke of Argyll. At the age of four the family moved to Moffat in Dumfriesshire where Stuart went to school. The family moved to Inveraray, his mother's home town, in 1983. He is one of the most recognized names in piping, and one of the top competitive solo players in the world today.
Band history
Liddell lives in InverarayInveraray
Inveraray is a royal burgh in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is on the western shore of Loch Fyne, near its head, and on the A83 road. It is the traditional county town of Argyll and ancestral home to the Duke of Argyll.-Coat of arms:...
and is Pipe Major
Pipe Major
The Pipe Major is the director of bagpipe music in a Scottish or Irish pipe band. Like Drum Major, the position of Pipe Major is derived from British Army traditions. During the early twentieth century, the term Sergeant Piper was used for the role in place of "Pipe Major".Civillian and military...
of the hugely successful juvenile Inveraray Pipe Band
Inveraray Pipe Band
Inveraray and District Pipe Band is a Grade 1 pipe band based in Inveraray, Scotland. Founded in 2005, the band is one of the most successful in recent history, having won all five RSPBA Grade 2 championships in 2009 and attained top grade status in only four years.-History:The current Inveraray...
-- a band he helped found. For ten years (1998–2008), he played with the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band
Simon Fraser University Pipe Band
The Simon Fraser University Pipe Band is a grade one pipe band affiliated with Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada . The band has consistently placed in the top three in world competition and has won the Grade One World Pipe Band Championships six times: 1995, 1996, 1999,...
in Burnaby, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
and won three World Pipe Band Championship
World Pipe Band Championships
The World Pipe Band Championships is a pipe band competition currently held in Glasgow, Scotland every August. The event has been operating regularly since 1930, when the Scottish Pipe Band Association was formed...
titles (1999, 2001, 2008). Before joining the SFU Pipe Band, he played with Scottish Power Pipe Band
Scottish Power Pipe Band
The ScottishPower Pipe Band, or SPPB, is a grade one pipe band sponsored by the international energy company ScottishPower. Considered one of the world's leading grade one pipe bands, the SPPB has been featured as a regular prizewinner in all major competitions over the previous several decades...
.
Solo Prizes
Liddell has won many of the top awards in solo piping, including the Gold Medal at the Argyllshire Gathering (2000), the Gold Medal at the Northern MeetingNorthern Meeting
The Northern Meeting, established in 1788 in Inverness, Scotland, is best known for its bagpiping competition in September. These competitions are among the most prestigious solo events in the piping world. The most famous competition is the pìobaireachd competition, which is organized in three...
(2004), the former winner's Clasp at the Northern Meeting (2007 & 2009), the Bratach Gorm at the Scottish Piping Society of London (2009) and the Glenfiddich Championship (2009). He is known for his fast playing and innovative arrangements of piping standards. His competitive successes demonstrates that he is well-versed in traditional playing styles.
Recordings
In 2007, Liddell released his first solo recording, Inveroran. He has also appeared on several recordings of Simon Fraser University Pipe BandSimon Fraser University Pipe Band
The Simon Fraser University Pipe Band is a grade one pipe band affiliated with Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada . The band has consistently placed in the top three in world competition and has won the Grade One World Pipe Band Championships six times: 1995, 1996, 1999,...
, with solo tracks on many discs.